I don't, I'm sorry. Just posting updates as production progresses.
hello troop, I'm new around here, does your solution also works on my MBP 13' 2011 ? I would like to be able to use the Auto Unlock feature..
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
802.11ac and BT 4.2 are here for unibody MBPs and A1342 MB!
- Thread starter troop231
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
hello troop, I'm new around here, does your solution also works on my MBP 13' 2011 ? I would like to be able to use the Auto Unlock feature..
Yes, as stated in the original post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/native-802-11ac-is-finally-here-for-cmbps.2171056/
See the following attached quote..
I hope that this solution is much cheaper than the quickertek card, lol.. please put me on the list.
Last edited:
I hope that this solution is much cheaper than the quickertek card, lol.. please put me on the list.
Please use the vote tool at the top of the thread
.My vote, btw, counts for two ;-)Please use the vote tool at the top of the thread
Magnus
Neither I or @troop231 own a 17" 2011" MacBook Pro, but after looking at the airport card holder for the a1297 MacBook pro, it's just about identical to the a1286 MacBook Pro's airport card.
Attachments
Based on the ifixit documentation, I was of the assumption that all 17" MBPs had an obscure wireless card located in the display. If not, then ifixit needs to update their site!
Source: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_17"_Unibody
Source: https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_17"_Unibody
Look at step 4. That shows an actual 2011 model. The other pics are a 2009 model based on the Date code on the DVD drive.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+17-Inch+Unibody+AirPort+Board+Replacement/9589
Attachments
Cool! I have failing GPU on my own 17" 2011 and didn't work to repair it. Thinked about to lost my last money to 15" 2015, but there's good news arrived
keep in touch guys!That will be good that I can support all of the unibody MBPs in that case then.
Only half true! Apple engaged in some ridiculousness with the 17" MBPs. IIRC there was an early 2010 and a later 2010 model, both using the same machine identifier, but with different wifi/bt internals. I believe the earlier 2010 17" MBPs had the discrete wifi and BT cards located in different areas. BT card is above optical drive in the area we are used to discussing, but the wifi was buried in the display hinge. That appears to be the version that iFixit refers to for its wifi/bt replacement guides.
My 17" is the later 2010 though, and it has a combo wifi/BT card and assembly that is the same as the 2010 15" and 13". The 2011 17" is similar, but with a slightly different length ribbon cable and slightly different antenna wire pathing in the card assembly.
I posted earlier in this thread (#41 and #42) about successfully replacing the existing wifi/bt card and assembly in my 2010 17" - I installed a 2011 wifi/BT card and assembly into my 2010 in order to get Bluetooth 4.0 working for Handoff and reported on more experiments to determine an optimal way to connect the 3 antenna wires in a 2010 (2 wifi + 1 BT) to the 4 antenna ports on the 2011 card. Might be useful info for anyone upgrading a 2010 17"/15"/13" with these newer cards as well.
I could still use 802.11ac for higher speeds and unlocking with my watch, so I will absolutely buy one of your boards to have a go at it.
I have updated the original post in this thread to reflect info for the 17" MBP. @flehman please confirm, but I believe everything should work with the Mid 2010 through Late 2011 17" A1297 MBPs?
@flehman There's only one A1297 in 2010, and it was the Mid 2010: https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/?search_keywords=a1297
So, the obscure wireless card in the display was on all models before this?
So, the obscure wireless card in the display was on all models before this?
That might be it. I have attached 2 images of what the wifi/bt cards and assemblies look like in the 2010 and 2011 17" MBPs. The filenames also include the Apple part numbers. The image for the 2010 is exactly what was inside my own 2010 17" when I replaced the wifi/bt card.
I can confirm that the wifi/bt cards of the 2010 and 2011 17" are interchangeable, but ONLY if you also switch out the entire card assembly and ribbon as well. The ribbon cables of the 2010 and 2011 are different lengths because they connect to a slightly different location on the card, but I switched an entire 2011 card, assembly, and ribbon into my 2010 and doing it that way it fit perfectly. There is enough slack on the antenna wires to re-route them through the different pathing on the 2011 card assembly.
Edit: This is a very roundabout way of saying that the 2010 and 2011 cards are not interchangeable themselves, because the ribbon connects to them at different locations on the card and that is why you have to change out the whole thing. Consequently, I suspect that 2010 17" MBPs would be able to accommodate the AC upgrade as-is, and perhaps even a 2011 17" could do it if you could swap in an assembly and ribbon from a 2010. I believe that in my case, I will have to remove the 2011 card and assembly and go back to the original 2010 card and assembly in order to make it work.
I can confirm that the wifi/bt cards of the 2010 and 2011 17" are interchangeable, but ONLY if you also switch out the entire card assembly and ribbon as well. The ribbon cables of the 2010 and 2011 are different lengths because they connect to a slightly different location on the card, but I switched an entire 2011 card, assembly, and ribbon into my 2010 and doing it that way it fit perfectly. There is enough slack on the antenna wires to re-route them through the different pathing on the 2011 card assembly.
Edit: This is a very roundabout way of saying that the 2010 and 2011 cards are not interchangeable themselves, because the ribbon connects to them at different locations on the card and that is why you have to change out the whole thing. Consequently, I suspect that 2010 17" MBPs would be able to accommodate the AC upgrade as-is, and perhaps even a 2011 17" could do it if you could swap in an assembly and ribbon from a 2010. I believe that in my case, I will have to remove the 2011 card and assembly and go back to the original 2010 card and assembly in order to make it work.
Attachments
Last edited:
I only know of 2009 15"/13" MacBook Pro's having the wifi card inside the LCD clutch area. 2010 and 2011 (2012 but no 17" was released) have moved them both to above the optical drive. When Apple does something to one class of machine it generally follows to to other class of machines of the same generation.
The exception to this is the 2010 13" still having the wifi card still within the clutch area. This is because 13" 2010 year of MacBook was still based off the core 2 duo design and Apple only changed MCP and the CPU specs, and shipped it. The 13" 2009/2010 Pro generation are strange design wise, because the polycarbonate white 2009/2010 MacBook while similar in spec have the Airport card also above the optical drive. Which is also something I will test when I get my first sample.
The exception to this is the 2010 13" still having the wifi card still within the clutch area. This is because 13" 2010 year of MacBook was still based off the core 2 duo design and Apple only changed MCP and the CPU specs, and shipped it. The 13" 2009/2010 Pro generation are strange design wise, because the polycarbonate white 2009/2010 MacBook while similar in spec have the Airport card also above the optical drive. Which is also something I will test when I get my first sample.
The 2010 and 2011 cards are interchangable, you have to change the metal bracket. The pinout on the Flex themselves are the same. I have verified this by using WiFi cards from an a1342 MacBook (same card in the 2010 15" pros) and a card from a 2011 MacBook Pro in a 2009 Mac mini. I can even demonstrate using an a1342 wifi card with an 2011 15" MacBook pro when I get a chance. They are all electrically the same. In terms of what you are saying maybe the flex cables are two different lengeths and land on two different spots of the logic board from year to year? The flex itself dis-attaches from the card itself which is needed for this kit to work.
[doublepost=1556205513][/doublepost]Here's what a 2010 and 2011 Airport card look like in a 2009 Mac mini BTW
I see what you mean the I/O rectangular connector starts further in on the 2010 card then it does on the 2011 card. So 2010 models will have extra cable slack when an AC card is installed.
Attachments
Last edited:
Other issue with 2010 vs 2011 is that the point where the ribbon attaches to the WiFi card is easily accessible, whereas on the 2011 the ribbon runs into and underneath the black adhesive covering that encloses the card inside the assembly. You need to peel the whole top cover off the assembly to get to it.
Bottom line though for 17” owners - I think this upgrade can be made to work in a 2010 or 2011 based on what I have seen inside my own 17”, and since I have WiFi/BT cards, assemblies, and ribbon cables on hand for both I can tinker and report back once these become available.
Peeling off the fabic tape is super easy to do with a finger nail. It can even be put back if needed. I think something is different at the MLB end of the cable. When me and @troop231 were looking at schematics we noticed a pad that was thought to be ground was 3.3v but I'm driving now and can't confirm. This again is the MLB side not wifi side.
The white MacBook 'supposedly' has pins 33 and 34 at 3v3, which is why I have them not connected on my board design, so it will work with all models without fear of shorting 3v3 to GND.
This was never confirmed to be a schematic error from Apple or not, because it's very weird that pins 31 and 32 are GND but 33 and 34 are 3v3.
This was never confirmed to be a schematic error from Apple or not, because it's very weird that pins 31 and 32 are GND but 33 and 34 are 3v3.
Last edited:
If there is a difference on the MLB side it did not impact putting the 2011 part into my 2010. I switched out the card assembly and ribbon cable all in one go. The 2011 card gave my 2010 Bluetooth 4.0 for Handoff. Based on what you are saying though, I am feeling pretty good about getting the upgrade to work in this 2010 17” whether I stick with the 2011 assembly or put the old 2010 one back in.
The pinout 'potential' and unconfirmed difference is for the white MacBook only. The MLB side schematic looks weird.